Fertilizer-distributer.



J. K. GOURDIN.

` FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.22, 1908.

Patented Feb.. 9, 1909.

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W/TNESSES A ATTORNEYS .THE NaRRls Paneles co., WASHINGTON, z:A c.

J. K. GOURDIN. FERTILIZER DISTBIBUTER. APlLIoATIoN FILED SEPT. 22, 190s.

912, 1 14. I Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

W/TNESSES /NVENTH /J Me/ )ede/ I dwf/v h. 60mm/v, By m ATTORNEYS l 1HE Nomzls PETERS ce.. wAsmNaraN. n, c.

FAFN f .TOI-IN K. GOURDIN, OF PINEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT L. MONTAGUE AND ROBERT P. TUCKER, OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLNA.

FERTLIZER-DSTRIBUTER.

Specification of Letters atent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1902.

Application filed September 22, 1908. Serial No. 454,250.

improved arrangement of means for dis` charging fertilizer from the hopper, and to improved means for effecting trie broadcast distribution of the fertilizer after discharge from the hopper.

The details of construction, combination, and operation of parts are as hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in Which Figure i is a longitudinal section of my improved distributor. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on a line below the bottom of the hoppe". Fig. 3 is a bottom'plan view of a portion or one side of the hopper. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken just in rear of the hopper. F ig. 5 is a vertical cross section taken just in front of the hopper.

. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the distribnter ornitting the sides or box portion of the i opper.

Fig. 7 is a perepective view illustrating the means for regulating the discharge openings in the rear of the hopper.

Referring in the first instance particularly to Fig. l, the numeral l indicates the hopper, 2 the side bars of the frame, and 3 a transporting Wheel mounted upon a double crankaxle a, in front of the hopper. 5 indicates coverers which project inwad or toward. each other. rllhe above parts are constructed, arranged, and operated in a Well-known manner. Handles o, see Figs. l and 5, are attached to the side bars 2 and extend rearwardly and upwardly therefrom in the usual Way.

The fertilizer contained in the hopper is agitated and discharged by means of tivo chains 7 which are connected by cross-bar 8 3 see especially Figs. l and 6. T he chains are arranged parallel and spaced from each other and Work in discharge openings in the rear side of the hopper and they are connected transversely Within the latter by means of the cross-bar 8. By this simple means l form a superior agitator and pulverizer for the fertilizer, and for discharging the same from the hopper. The chains, With the cross bar S, are constantly reciprocated as the machine advances. For this purpose, the

.chains are attached to devices connected with the double crank-axle 4, and receive a reciprocating motion therefrom. As shown in Fig. 2, broad plates 9 are arranged side by side, parallel, and connected by hinged bars l0 With the tWo cranks of the axle 4l. The said plates 9 are supported in their longitudinal reciprocation by means of a transverse bar il, see Figs. l, 2, 3, l, the ends of the same being attached to the under side of the bars or beams 2 of the frame. For the purpose of holding the plates Q on said bar lWhile reciprocating, a longitudinal metal strip l2 is secured to the under side of the same, and spaced from the plate sufficiently to receive the supporting cross-bar ll. The said strip l2 is, therefore, in the nature of a keeper. The front ends of the plates 9 are attached to a cross-bar 13, and the ends of the latter are supported and slide on guide strips lll, see Fig. 3, which are attached to the under side of the frame bars 2. lt is apparent that the plates 9 are reciprccated horizontally through their connection With the crank-shaft by means of the hinged bars l0.

As indicated in several figures, the plates 9 are so located with reference to the discharge openings in the hopper i, that the fertilizer falls in the first instance directly upon them, and since they a'=e constantly reciprocatec, or shaken endwise, so to speak, the fertilizer is scattered on the same and falls over the side edges ano rear end. lt is, however, of f great importance that the fertilizer thus delivered upon the distributing plates 9, shall bc quickly leveled or spread out thereon in order to cause the fertilizer to be distributed in the required manner and with due rapid ity. For this purpose l employ a special means, Which, after many experiments, l have found most effective, to Wit, a series of transverse Wires 15 which extend over plates 9, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, between the side bars 2 of the frame to which they are loosely attached. These cross rods or Wires being stationary, and the plates 9 being constantly reciprocated, the fertilizing material discharged in a row on the plates is quickly leveled and distributed over the surface of the plates and thus discharged therefrom over their edges.

The reciprocation of the chains 7 before referred to, Which pass through holes in the front and rear sides of the hopper l and over ,l the false bottoni of the latter, is due to their connection with the rear ends of the distributing plates 9 and the iront portions of the connecting bars l0. lt will be noted, however, that the chains proper do not pass through the front openings in the hopper, since it is not desired to eilect discharge of the -fertilizer at that point, and, therefore, rods 7a are employed in place of chains at such point, and thus forni practically a continuation of or extended link in the chains. lt is obvious that the rods 7'LL will slide thro h a sinall opening with comparatively little friction and that very little of the fertilizer will be discharged the front openings in tliehopper.

l provide the iront side of the hopper with vertically adjustable plates i6, the saine having open slots or notches in their lower ends to accoinrnoc ate the rods 7 a. The l plates are adapted for adjustment 1oy means l oi vertical slots through which clai j screws l? pass, as indicated in Figs. i and 5. The rear side of the hopper is provided with other vertically adjustable plates i8 and i9 the sarne being secured by clampscrews 2G and 2l respectively, as illustrated in l, l and 7 By adjusting the platos l@ higher or lower, it is olwious that the disol'iarge openings in the rear oi the hopper will be widened or contracted. llor eiieeting the saine result in respect to their later l dimension, l provide slides 22, see TJigs. and 7, which are adjustablelaterally, end wise, ano are clamped in any -liustinent by y means of hinged bars 23.

.ri-.c latter hinged at 24 to the side h 2 of the traine and their irce ends engage tno bcveleir inclined upper portion ol' the slides 22. raising the free end oi the clamping b ars 25s, tie slides 22 are released and nay be adjusted to narrow' the discharge openings laterally, and, by pressing down on the free ends oi said bars 23, the slides are engaged and locked by friction. The adiustinent oi the slides i9 and 22 adapts the machine for distributing fertilizer in any desired quantity, or according to its condition, that is to say, whether fine or coarse and luinpy. The

l slide 18 inay be raised or adjusted upward when it is desired to use the machine for distributing cotton seed.

l claim:

l.. ln a fertilizer distributor, the combination with the wheel, crank axle, and hop er having an irnperiorate bottom and a ischarge opening in the rear side, of distributing plates arranged beneath the bottom of the hopper and extending rearward beyond it, and devices arranged and operating within thc hopper for agitating` the 'fertilizer and discharging it through the rear opening, as shown and described.

in a fertilizer distributer, the combination with the hopper' having an irriperforate bottoni and a discharge opening in the rear side, a transporting wheel, and a crank aXle whereon said wheel is niounted, of a horizontally reciprocating plate arranged beneath the hottorn oi the hopper and extending rearwardly beyond the saine, whereby it is adapted to receive fertilizer as discharged thereiroin, a bar connecting such plate with the cranl; axle, a chain passing through the hopper over the bottoni thereof and attached to the rear portion of said plate and at its forward end to the connecting bar, whereby, when moved rearwardly, the chain agitates the fertilizer and causes its discharge from the rear opening so that it falls upon the distributing plate, as shown and described.

ln a fertilizer distributor, the combination with the hopper having a discharge opening, andv a discharge device working,

through the said opening, of means for adiristiiig the size ci the opening, the saine consisting oi a vertically adjustable plate, and rneans for clamping it, and a laterally a"iustable plate 22, and rneans for clamping it in the required adjustment, substantially as described.

JOHN K. GOURDlN.

Witnesses M. GoURnrN, E. S. SAULS. 

